Financial Controller – Operations

• Full Time
• Application Closes 19 Feb 2025
• Waikato - Te Awamutu
• Academic Directors

About Manuka Health

Manuka Health is a high-performing team of 200 people and about 1.5 billion bees, working together to become the leading Manuka honey company globally. At the heart of our collective effort is a culture of care. We care deeply about our people, products, consumers, communities, environment, and our impact on the world. 

Our vertically integrated business starts at the source with a dedicated beekeeping and land management division, specialized extraction, processing, packing, and testing facilities, and highly experienced sales, marketing, operations, and leadership teams. Through our secure supply chain, rigorous quality control and collective expertise we produce and deliver our trusted New Zealand bee products to over 45 countries worldwide. We have an ambitious growth strategy to sustainably grow our business and New Zealand's Manuka honey industry for the betterment of people and the planet. 

The role

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Financial Controller – Operations to join our team in Te Awamutu on a fixed-term basis to cover maternity leave. In this critical role, you will lead a best-in-class finance function, ensuring the protection of assets and value, and delivering timely and high-quality financial insights to support excellent decision-making across the business.

As the senior finance representative at our Te Awamutu site, you will work closely with cross-functional teams, lead our transactional finance team, and play a key role in the site leadership team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and lead the Te Awamutu finance team to deliver exceptional performance and meet role expectations.
•  Act as a strategic finance business partner to operations and beekeeping teams, supporting decision-making, budget development, and performance monitoring
•  Drive system and process improvements, ensuring compliance with internal controls.
• Oversee local accounting functions, including: Cash management, Accounts payable and receivable, payroll, Tax, Fixed assets and Inventory management
• Ensure internal accounting policies and procedures are fit for purpose and industry-leading.
• Collaborate with the Commercial Financial Controller to manage financial accounting, reporting, and control activities, ensuring timely and accurate financial information and advice for senior management.
• Ensure the company has the financial resources required to achieve business goals and objectives.

Our ideal candidate will have the following attributes and skills:

• Proven experience in a similar financial leadership role, ideally within an operational or manufacturing environment.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and expertise in internal control systems.
• Excellent leadership and team development skills.
• A proactive approach to business partnering with operational teams.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results under tight deadlines.

In return we will offer you:

• Competitive remuneration including annual bonus based on attitude and experience
• Southern Cross Healthcare insurance
• The opportunity to join a great company
• Small team environment and recognition for a job well done

If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, we’d love to hear from you! Please send your CV and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you’re the perfect fit for this role.